In a previous blog, I alluded to watching television as a child in the 1960's and the fact things were very different then to what they are now. Because of the discussion this caused, I thought it would be interesting to see exactly what it was like, so went on to e-bay and purchased the Radio Times for the week Radio Caroline was launched, Easter weekend, March 28th to April 3rd 1964.
We probably all remember our childhood through rose tinted spectacles, imagining it was always perfect. Maybe it really was ? Turning the pages brought back dim, distant but wonderful childhood memories :
We probably all remember our childhood through rose tinted spectacles, imagining it was always perfect. Maybe it really was ? Turning the pages brought back dim, distant but wonderful childhood memories :
- The Radio Times cost sixpence and, like the programmes, was all in black and white - that's two and a half pence in today's money ..... if we still had half pence's !
- It covered BBC TV and BBC radio (The Home Service, The Light Programme and the Third Programme). We did have ITV as well but they had their own TV Times !
- Television had a 'Watch with Mother' on twice a day at 10.45 and 1.30 but nothing else was on until about 5.00 and then it went through until closedown slightly after 11.00. I guess the Test Card was on before programmes started at tea time.
- Radio wasn't 24 hours either - it generally started about 6.30 a.m and went through until around midnight.
- Saturday started with Grandstand at 1.00 p.m presented by David Coleman which went on for four hours. This week we had The University Boat Race with Peter West, International Moto-Cross with Murray Walker, the A.A.A Indoor Athletics from 'Wembley Pool' with Norris McWhirter and racing from Kempton Park commentator Peter O'Sullivan.
- Saturday evening started with Doctor Who (the first doctor William Hartnell) followed by Juke Box Jury (David Jacobs), Dixon of Dock Green (Jack Warner), Laramie and one my parents' favorites, Hugh & I (Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd). It was followed by 'The Saturday Film' and, as it was Easter, ended with an Easter Vigil and 'The first mass of Easter Day' .... presumably 'live'.
- On Easter Sunday we had such classics as The Billy Cotton Band Show (with Russ Conway and Kathy Kirby), Perry Mason and Doctor Finlay's Casebook.
- Easter Monday had another Grandstand throughout the afternoon, Billy Smart's Circus, The Lucy Show and Panorama with Richard Dimbleby.
- A few shows during the week which I remember - Deputy Dawg, Animal Magic (Johnny Morris), Tonight with Cliff Michelmore, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Top of the Pops "a new look at Britain's best sellers", Sykes, Z Cars, Doctor Kildare starring Richard Chamberlain, This is Your Life with Eamonn Andrews, Sportsview with Peter Dimmock and The Sky at Night with Patrick Moore.
Has television improved over the years ? We have colour, which we wouldn't want to do without, and it is 24 hours a day with specialist channels covering a multitude of topics to suit your mood whether it is news, history, geography, food or the arts which is fine. However the standard of the shows doesn't seem to have moved on. We now pay a lot more, especially with satellite and cable channels. It is more 'perfect' I suppose and less blemishes, but just taking the week commencing 28th March 1964 in isolation, I would certainly pay to see ALL those programmes again ..... and I must say I couldn't find a single 'repeat' !